In the last post, we looked at what our dreams are, their importance in our lives, and what happens when we ignore or silence them. Hopefully, you were able to tune into some moments of inspiration and expansion over the ensuing days, and have an idea of a dream - however small - that wants expression through you. Writing down our inspirations is a wonderful way to begin noticing them, as well as remembering them for later tending. We forget easily, especially when we're first starting out on our dream-keeping path! From your list or from memory, call up one of the dreams that made itself felt to you. We'll use it today to learn how to begin keeping and cultivating, and what we learn can be applied to your future inspirations, too.

If at all possible, it's wonderful to stop and give ourselves a moment or two to be with, feel into, or listen to a dream when it first lands on our shoulder (or in our heart). We want to experience it as clearly as we can, letting it move us. This is a wonderful moment to write it down, sketch it out, envision it in our minds eye, or create any symbol that will help us reconnect to the essence of our dream later. How we record our dream will vary based on our personal creative strengths, so choose the method that makes the most sense to you. As we're describing or sketching or dancing our dream, we want to continue to feel it as fully as possible, merging our symbol or our notes with the feeling of the dream's essence. Some dreams take time to bring into reality, and this symbol or story or collage or video is going to help us stay focused on our dream with clarity when doubt, confusion, or lethargy arise along our way. We make ourselves a map of the dream, so that we can remember where we're headed.

We'll place our symbol, story, or map somewhere that we can engage with it regularly. Perhaps we place it somewhere we can see it when we arise each day, so we begin our day giving energy and attention to our dream. Perhaps we have a sacred space for prayer or meditation, and we place our map there, to give it our best and most focused attention after our spiritual practice. Perhaps it works best for us to have a picture of our map on our phone, so that we can revisit the image of our dream throughout the day. Maybe we do all of the above! As we revisit our dream map, we'll allow ourselves to feel into the essence of our dream again and again, and to draw the vision of it into ourselves as much as possible. In this part of our dream-keeping practice, we're not planning and executing and making lists, but rather opening to and receiving the dream. Opening and receiving, opening and receiving, opening and receiving. If new layers or components of our dream make themselves known as we do this, we can add them to our map, being sure to express our gratitude for the insight.

Next, we want to determine what real-life action steps are necessary to bring our dream to life. Do we have the skills and information needed to create it already, or do we need to seek out some advice or training? Do we need the help of others to make our dream happen? If yes, who? What are the step-by-step actions needed to take us from right here where we are now, to there? We write them down, as clearly as possible. If at any point we start to feel overwhelmed, we can pause this part of the practice and return to feeling into the dream for a few moments - this should energize us and return us to an expansive state of possibility. We can also step away for a short while and do something fun and relaxing unrelated to our dream.

Depending on the size and scale of our dream, we pick a reasonable committment - maybe we commit to one real-life action step towards our dream each week until it's realized. Perhaps an action step a day is more appropriate for us. Some dreams, once mapped and outlined in this way, will demand all of our attention until they're done - we might go all in and do it now! Decide what makes sense for your dream and your life, and then commit - regular steps will keep you connected to your dream, and lead you steadily toward bringing it into form. At any time you begin to feel discouraged, too bogged down with details or overwhelmed with the enormity of what you've entered into, simply back up a little bit in your vision, broaden your view, and return to feeling the dream as you did in it's inception. Stay in this less-focused, less-detailed, feeling-centered place until you feel rejuvenated. And when your second wind comes, bringing with it the clarity of your next right step, return to action and take that step! Wishing you all productive play with all the dreams you allow to come through you!

In the name of the daybreakand the eyelids of morningand the wayfaring moonand the night when it departs,

I swear I will not dishonormy soul with hatred,but offer myself humblyas a guardian of nature,as a healer of misery,as a messenger of wonder,as an architect of peace.

In the name of the sun and its mirrorsand the day that embraces itand the cloud veils drawn over itand the uttermost nightand the male and the femaleand the plants bursting with seedand the crowning seasonsof the firefly and the apple,

I will honor all life—wherever and in whatever formit may dwell—on Earth my home,and in the mansions of the stars.

When was the last time you had an idea that lifted your energy, made you feel excited, alive, expansive and capable?

Consider that this was a dream, an opportunity, an invitation from Life. Perhaps you dreamed of creating an experience or an environment, of connecting with another, of sharing or dancing or singing. Perhaps you dreamed of allowing words to flow through you that would bring laughter, healing, or understanding. Perhaps you dreamed of moving the course of your life in an entirely new direction. Perhaps, just for a moment, a whole new reality became visible to you, fully felt and distinctly possible.

How did you meet your dream?

As powerfully creative and intimately connected beings, we are often receiving dreams - visions and inspirations that could become reality, were they given the proper care and attention. Countless influences in our lives encourage us to turn our attention away from our own dreams. When we do this, we feel unfulfilled and restless. We feel as though our lives are lacking in deep, important and often nameless ways.

How and why do we turn away from, or orphan our own dreams?

We're diverted and distracted from our dreams in so many ways! Perhaps we give ourselves to the dreams of others, more or less unconsciously. Perhaps we give the best of our attention to the drama of the moment, constantly reacting to a plentiful and never-ending drama that has nothing at all to do with what we're here to do. Perhaps we fill our schedules so brimmingly full that we never have an intimate moment with ourselves - a moment in which our dream could present itself to an uncluttered mind, an open and receptive heart. Perhaps we're always running from this conversation with ourselves.

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open...”- Martha Graham

Often we're diverted by fear. Fear can tell us we're not capable of holding our dreams, of carrying them into the light of day. That we're not big enough, bold enough, or strong enough. Fear can say "who do you think you are?!" Fear can tell us we're nuts for even thinking about it. "Nobody wants your dream anyway!" - fear may tell us our dreams are silly or indulgent, meaningless tripe. Fear can say that dreaming is a waste of our time. Hooey.

Sometimes we're diverted by the fear of others in our lives. We may run into criticism and judgment from those close to us, if they fear that our dreams may require some of the attention and time they currently receive from us. They may fear our growth as a result of tending to our dreams - they may worry we'll grow in ways they don't like, or in a way that doesn't support our mutual connection in the form it's in now. They may fear that our dreams will be successful, and that they'll feel small or diminished in comparison. They may criticize us because they had dreams they never cultivated in their own lives. They may harbor guilt and anger towards themselves which they're projecting onto us, because that feels safer than owning it.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. A miracle worker is an artist of the soul. There is no higher art than living a good life” - Marianne Williamson, from A Return to Love, p.165

Vitality and joy in our lives arise, in large part, from our relationship with the dreams and inspirations which have been planted within us. Even when they aren't successful, even when they're not what we'd envisioned. The process of tending to and developing our dreams grows us - in trust, confidence, and joy - with Ourselves and with Life. Chronically shrugging off our dreams begins to silence them, and brings us to increasing disconnection and dissatisfaction with life. Listening to our dreams, learning from them, and playing with them brings us some of the highest-grade energy we can experience as human beings.

In the next post, we'll look at some simple and specific ways that we can begin to play with and nurture our dreams. Over the coming week, I invite you to take note of the moments and the ideas that "light you up". Invite them to make themselves known to you, notice them when they bubble up, feel them as they do, and write them down. Keep your list handy to play with next time. Until then, breathe deeply, practice often, be well.